The French then and Now

Twenty years on, specter of Rainbow Warrior still haunts France

Just one question: Operation SATANIC? What the hell kind of code name is that? Granted, Operation Blowing Up Birkenstock Wearing Hippies, while more accurate, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. But I would think the French are creative enough to come up with something better. Perhaps the task of naming an offensive action was too novel, with their traditional maneuvers named Operations: Take Flight, Hide Like the Wind and Run Away like Something that Runs Away Very Quickly Indeed.

Look at us Americans. We may invade some pissant country at the drop of a hat, but we usually have pretty cool operation and code names for our wars and police actions.

1983 Grenada invasion- Urgent Fury
1989 evacuation of dependents from Panama- Blade Jewel
1989 invasion of Panama- Just Cause
1990-91 First Gulf War- Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and then Desert Sabre

We'll ignore Operation Enduring Freedom as an aberration of America's martial poeticism.

Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls

Terrorist bombings in London. Crap.

Article in response from the Jerusalem Post: Rules of Conflict for a World War. Would that be a World War against... Islamofascists? But I think the author then shoots himself in the foot credibility-wise:

"The measures that I have outlined above will not be easily adopted
overnight. When the US entered World War Two, Congress approved the momentous decision by a majority of one vote."

WWI maybe, I don't know about the vote for that. But WWII House and Senate votes were unanimous except for Jeanette Rankin in the House.

Martha Stewart: House Arrest Is 'Hideous'

You know, Martha and I really need to get together and work on our definitions. Take the word 'hideous', for example...

The eXile takes on the Pro War Zombies

Do not click on the link below if you are:
-Offended by bad language
-Offended by sexually explicit images
-An Iraq war supporter
-Afraid of zombies
-My Mom

All clear? Ok. Here's Land of the Dead.

Your Support Needed

To everyone reading this: Please leave a note in the comments expressing your opinions of what a magnificent car the Fiat Stilo Arbath is. 'Cause I need to convince my wife to let me buy one.

Dumnidity*

This has been around awhile, but got reposted on FARK today for some reason.

The Ecological Footprint Quiz.
My result:
" IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 5.4 PLANETS. "

Let's see. 1 planet for beer production, 1 planet for coffee growing, 1 planet for tobacco. That's three planets right there. Another planet for the production of bacon. I'm not sure what this hypothetical Karl World is going to need the other 1.4 planets for. But I think the test seems to be missing a key point. Having no children and with none planned, in about 30 years Karl World will need ZERO planets. Beat that, ya hippies.

I took the test again as a ten year-old vegan Indian boy living in a 20sqm 'green design residence' with no electricity and a family of more than 7.

WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 1.8 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL HECTARES PER PERSON.

So, my hypothetical Indian boy would only need 1/6 of a planet! Unless he grows up and fathers ten kids...



* "Dumnidity" is an original word invented by me, and has nothing to do with anybody else.

Mutterings heard

I haven't been out much recently, so I don't know much of whatever has been happening in Taichung. But I did hear this: English Kevin (also known as "Don't mess with me because I have gangster friends and they'll sort you right out" Kevin*) got thumped Saturday night by PJ. No details are known as of press time. I thought Kevin had lifetime banned from PJ's anyway, so I don't know what he was doing there.

*Not to be confused with Kevin the lovable maritimer who can fix anything. Including fish tanks.

Chess night at FM last night was a resounding success. Except that I beat Chuck so badly that he spontaneously decided to return to the U.S. and go to Graduate School. I pointed out that he already has a Master's degree, so what would be the point of going back to school? His answer- more Master's degrees. Hopefully Chuck's return to academia will allow him time to study the Sicilian Defence, and discover that it does not consist of 1. E4 C5 2. Nf3 -order a pizza.

Soup Help

I need a recipe for a five-bean soup that is more spicy and exotic than the usual Southern/Midwest fare. No pork is better. Any ideas on how to do a curry bean soup?